And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes,
these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately.
Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be famines and earthquakes in many places of the world.
But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
Matthew 24:6-8 NLT
As I write this, a war has broken out between the nations of Russia and Ukraine...
these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately.
Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be famines and earthquakes in many places of the world.
But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
Matthew 24:6-8 NLT
As I write this, a war has broken out between the nations of Russia and Ukraine...
The news of it has spread quickly throughout the world. For the people of Ukraine, it is a time of distress and panic. The lives of millions of Ukrainians have been turned upside down. Death and devastation are running amok. The news coming through television shows buildings of all kinds in ruins and fires raging everywhere.
What many do not know, however, is that before this war began, Ukraine was a spiritually vibrant nation. Once it was released from Communist control and its borders were opened to outsiders, evangelical Christian ministries and missionaries poured into the country. Revivals began. Churches were established, and so were schools of biblical instruction such as God-honoring Bible colleges.
Ukraine became a center for the gospel message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to spread into other former Communist countries as well, and even into Russia itself. In addition, at the time the war began Ukraine was home to over half a million Jews, and they too were now hearing the gospel message from fellow Jews who arrived from Europe and North America primarily to share Jesus (Yeshua) with them. As a result, Messianic congregations were born, and they were thriving.
Today, until this present conflict started, churches and ministries were producing spiritually mature disciples of Christ. More and more people in Ukraine were experiencing "new birth" and were being added to God's family, daily.
But low and behold, now comes the war. However, based on what I know about evangelical church growth and the overall spiritual development of Bible based churches that were coming along well in Ukraine, it is my contention that the current conflict is spiritual in nature, even more than it is political.
I hope to discuss this further in my next entry. The war between Russia and Ukraine is more than what it appears to be on the surface. It is a demonically driven and demonically energized event.
To be continued, God willing.
D.B.
What many do not know, however, is that before this war began, Ukraine was a spiritually vibrant nation. Once it was released from Communist control and its borders were opened to outsiders, evangelical Christian ministries and missionaries poured into the country. Revivals began. Churches were established, and so were schools of biblical instruction such as God-honoring Bible colleges.
Ukraine became a center for the gospel message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to spread into other former Communist countries as well, and even into Russia itself. In addition, at the time the war began Ukraine was home to over half a million Jews, and they too were now hearing the gospel message from fellow Jews who arrived from Europe and North America primarily to share Jesus (Yeshua) with them. As a result, Messianic congregations were born, and they were thriving.
Today, until this present conflict started, churches and ministries were producing spiritually mature disciples of Christ. More and more people in Ukraine were experiencing "new birth" and were being added to God's family, daily.
But low and behold, now comes the war. However, based on what I know about evangelical church growth and the overall spiritual development of Bible based churches that were coming along well in Ukraine, it is my contention that the current conflict is spiritual in nature, even more than it is political.
I hope to discuss this further in my next entry. The war between Russia and Ukraine is more than what it appears to be on the surface. It is a demonically driven and demonically energized event.
To be continued, God willing.
D.B.
